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ToYY SPRING GUN.

No. 262,981. Patented Aug. 22, 1882.

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f UNITED STATES PATENT" OEETCE.

Y wiLLIAM s. REED AND EOMEE N. PARKER, on LEoMiNs'rEE, MAssAoHU- sETTs, AssicNoEs To THE'w. s. EEED Torl COMPANY, on sAME PLAGE.`

SPECIFICATION forming` part of` Letters Patent No. 262,981, dated August 22, 1882.

Application filed May 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. REED and HoMEE N. PARKER, ycitizens of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Guns; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 represents a toy gun constructed in accordance with our invention, the parts being in a position ready for discharging or ej ectin g the projectile contained within its barrel. Fig. 2 represents the same with the parts in the position they occupy after the discharge of the projectile. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the gun. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section through the center ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line w c; of Fig. 4E.

Our present invention relates to that class of toy guns in which the resiliency of an elastic cord or spring constitutes the motive power for forcing or ejecting the projectile from the barrel; and this invention consists in two arms pivoted to and projecting out from the opposite sides of the barrel, near its forward end, for the elastic cord or band to be attached thereto, whereby the friction of the latter against the sides of the barrel, when released, is reduced, and the arms may be swung'forward when not in use to stow more closely for packing or transportation.

In the said drawings, A represents the'barrel, formed in one piece, provided with a central bore, a, the outer or muzzle portion, b, being closed and the inner portion, o, toward the stock, having a slot, d, extending longitudinal with and through its sides and communicating with said bore. Y

B B are two wire spring-arms, bent at their inner ends and coiled at their outer ends, as shown, said arms being pivoted t0 the opposite sides of the barrel not far from its muzzle, by which construction they may be swung forward `against the latter when not in use, thus stowing y more compactly for transportation.

C C are cleats secured tothe barrel over the inner ends of the arms in such manner as to Y permit them to` be swung back from the muzzle end away from the sides into the iiring position, shown in Fig. 1, or forward toward the muzzle down upon the sides, as seen in Fig. 3', into a compact position when the `gun is not required for use.

D D are two elastic cords or bands, one loop o r bight of each being secured Vto the outer coiled end of the spring-arm B on the corresponding side of the barrel, and the other loop or bight being connected with a tough strip, c, ot' rawhide or leather, which passes transversely through the slot d in the barrel, the said material being employed on account of its durability in withstanding the constant friction and strain to which it is subjected in coming into contact vwith the slotted sides of the barrel during the operation of ejecting the arrow, dart, or other projectile from the gun, and also by Contact with the upper hooked end of the spring-trigger E, over which it is caught preparatory to discharging the same, the projecting arms B B also 'serving to keep the elastic cords or bands D D (when being t released) away from the sides of the barrel, and thus prevent much ofthe friction and wear which would otherwise occur to said bands D D. The forward end of the slotted portion d, where it terminates at the closed portion c of the barrel, serves as a stop, g, to arrest the movement of the strip e and elastic cords or bands D D in this direction, whereby the entan glement of the latter is prevented, and each cord or band is kept at a slight angle near the side of the barrel when the parts 4are not in their firing position.

When the gun is not required for immediate use the spring-arms B B are swung forward on their pivots, and their coiled ends are 9o brought to bear snugly against the sides of the barrel, the elastic cords or bands being discon` nected from the coiled ends of the arms and caught over the head. of a pin, h, projecting from the under side of the barrel, if desired.

ik are two sights, the rear sight, t', being elevated or depressed according to the length of the range.

Where the projectile is to be carried a long distance strong elastic cords or bands are em- ICO ployed, while for a short distance those ot' less strength answer the purpose.

The stock is provided with a cavity, l, for the reception of the projectiles f, strips e, and cords or bands D, ofdift'erent sizes and strength the said cavity being closed by a pivoted sliding cover, m.

The arms B B may be rigid or unyielding instead of spring metal, and instead of two arms, one only, connected with the solid portion of the barrel, may be employed; but I prefer the construction shown and described. rlhe strip e best answers the purpose when made ot' flexible material, but is not necessarily so.

n n are cleats secured to the outside ot' the barrel on each side of the forward end ot' the slot, said cleats forming a wider stop, g, and a more extended bearing for the strip e when arrested thereby, besides which the cleats reenforce and prevent the splitting of the barrel.

Ve claiml. In combination, the slotted barrel A, the arms B B, pivoted to the outside thereof to enable them to be swung forward, and the elastic band or cord D, as and for the purpose described.

2. The flexible strip c, in combination with the elastic band or cord D, the slotted barrel A, and the arms B, pivoted thereto, as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have afxed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. REED. HOMER N. PARKER. Vitnesses;

CHARLES E. DREssER, CHARLES H. MERRIAM. 

